KP, of the government, still official leader of LTTE

THURSDAY, 27 NOVEMBER 2014

It is revealed that Kumaran Pathmanathan alias KP, who became the leader of the LTTE after Vedlupillai Prabakaran died, still remains as the leader of the outfit. He has not resigned or given up the leadership of the LTTE.

KP, who was apprehended in Malaysia immediately after the war ended, became the leader of the LTTE while he was the international leader, the chief procurer of arms for the outfit and ran a network of LTTE offices which were engaged in its weapons procurement, logistics and money laundering operations.

After KP was arrested by ‘Interpol’ he was brought to Sri Lanka and was kept under direct supervision of Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. Meanwhile, his wife too was brought down from Thailand.

During the last election for Northern Provincial Council his civil rights were restored, was settled down in the North and acts as the unofficial representative of the government for the North. However, he is still the official leader of the LTTE.

Journalists celebrate the International Day to End Impunity

November 26, 2014

Sri Lankan Journalists celebrated the International Day to End Impunity 2014 (IDEL 2014) with lighting candles on 25th November 2014 at the Vihara Maha Devi Park in Colombo.
This event organized by Alumni Association of Sri Lanka College of Journalism (SLCJ).

Jaffna University under military siege closed 

till December 1

 November 26, 2014

The University of Jaffna has officially been closed from today till December 1, after Sri Lankan army stepped up its presence and pressure on the university community, aiming to prevent any effort to mark LTTE Heroes’ Day commemoration which falls tomorrow.

According to reports from Jaffna, several hundreds of heavily-armed military personnel have taken full control of both the entrance of the university and ordered the entire students to vacate, even from their hostels. The military has also increased their foot patrol and random road checks in the area.

Having been informed of the reports that the students have, somehow, celebrated the 60 th birthday of the Tamil Tiger chief Velupillai Prabhakaran today, hundreds of soldiers in military motorbikes entered the university premises and carried out a thorough search operation.

As tension grew, the University administration announced a week-long vacation for all the faculties from Wednesday till December 1.

“The University administration, unable to prevent the military from interfering with the academic activities of the students, have announced a week-long vacation for the entire units. Even the hostel students have been asked to vacate with immediate effect,” a Jaffna University staff told Colombo Mirror via phone.

“The University is out of bounds for the students and the staff. The military has taken full control of the area. Some soldiers have even got into the buildings in the neighbourhood and are monitoring the activities of the students in and around the area. The entire area looks like a battle-zone,” he said on condition of anonymity.

On Monday, hand-written posters carrying death threat against Jaffna University Teachers’ Association (JUTA) president Rajakumar and four students named Nivas, Thamilselvan, Ainkaran and Britto were found pasted in the vicinity of the university.

One poster in Tamil slang said “Will kill Nivas, Thamilselvan, Ainkaran, Britto and Rajakumar” while the other read “These people are reviving the LTTE. We will kill them. We will not allow Heroes’ Week commemorations”.

The LTTE Heroes’ week is annually commemorated on November 27. The Sri Lankan Security Forces in the past threatened, attacked and arrested several students activists for commemorating the LTTE’s Heroes’ Day.

British lawmakers urge EU to stop Sri Lanka trade perks if UN probe not given access

BY KYLIE MACLELLAN-Wed Nov 26, 2014 

(Reuters) - Leading British lawmakers urged the European Union on Thursday to remove preferential trade tariffs from Sri Lanka if it fails to address human rights concerns.

Sri Lanka has refused to cooperate with a United Nations Human Rights Council investigation into war crimes allegedly committed by both state forces and separatist Tamil rebels during a conflict that ended in 2009, despite mounting international pressure.

The United Nations has estimated about 40,000 civilians were killed in the final weeks of the 26-year conflict, mostly by the army, but Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has dismissed the probe as politically motivated.

The EU is Sri Lanka's largest export destination, accacounting for 36 percent of Sri Lanka's total exports, according to EU figures.

"Our government must negotiate with EU partners to remove trade concessions from Sri Lanka if the government of Sri Lanka continues to deny the U.N. investigating team access into the country," Richard Ottaway, a Conservative lawmaker and chairman of parliament's foreign affairs committee, said in a statement accompanying a report on the government's work on human rights.

While the EU has temporarily withdrawn some trade concessions, Sri Lanka remains a beneficiary of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences, which allows developing country exporters to pay less or no duties on their exports to the EU.

During a summit of Commonwealth nations in Colombo a year ago, British Prime Minister David Cameron was a vocal critic of Sri Lanka's human rights record, and Britain was among those who pushed for the international inquiry.

"The government should be ready to consider all possible options, including sanctions, to convince Sri Lanka to allow access," the British lawmakers said in the report.

The lawmakers said the government should use the opportunity of a new administration in Sri Lanka's neighbor India to garner regional support for the investigation. India abstained from a vote to back the inquiry at the United Nations in March.

(Editing by Susan Fenton)

பொதுபலசேனாவின் முகத்திரை கிழியப்பட்டுள்ளது: சேனாவுக்கு மைத்திரி தாக்குதல்

Submitted by MD.Lucias on Thu, 11/27/2014 

ஜனாதிபதி மஹிந்த ராஜபக்ஷவுக்கு பொதுபலசேனா மறைமுகமாக ஆதரவளிப்பதன் மூலம் அவர்களின் முகத்திரை  கிழியப்பட்டு உண்மையான முகம் வெளிக்காட்டப்பட்டுள்ளது என எதிரணியின் பொது வேட்பாளர் மைத்திரிபால சிறிசேன தனது டுவிட்டர் பக்கத்தில் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

பொது எதிரணிக்கு பின்னணியில் வெளிநாட்டு சதி இடம்பெறுவதாகவும் அதனை தாம் நாட்டு மக்களுக்கு வெளிப்படுத்தவுள்ளதாகவும் இன்று கொழும்பில் இடம்பெற்ற ஊடகவியலாளர் சந்திப்பின் போது பொதுபலசேனா தெரவித்திருந்த நிலையிலேயே பொதுவேட்பாளர் மைத்திரிபால சிறிசேன இதனைத் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

ஜனாதிபதி மஹிந்த ராஜபக்ஷவுக்கு பொதுபலசேனா ஆதரவளிப்பது தொடர்பாக எமக்கு எவ்வித ஆட்சேபனையும் இல்லை. அவர்களின் முடிவு எமக்கு முக்கியமில்லாத காரணத்தினாலேயே அவர்களுடன் பேச்சுவார்த்தைக்கு செல்லவில்லை எனவும் குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளார்.

BBS Cries Sour Grapes! – Pledges Support To Mahinda After Maithri Ignores Them

November 27, 2014

After their plan to sabotage the election campaign of the Common candidate by joining the common opposition movement failed, Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) organisation today pledged their support to Mahinda Rajapaksa and said they would use their maximum strength to ensure the defeat of Maithripala Sirisena.

Gnanasara

Their stance was officially announced today during a media breifig as promised earlier during the week, where they pledged their support to Mahinda Rajapaksa. BBS General Secretary Galagoda Atte Gnanasaraspeaking at the media breifing said they will not be joining the UPFA but would conduct a seperate campaign in support of Mahinda Rajapaksa.

He said they would travel around the country to ensure Mahinda’s victory since they believe hs is a ‘national leader’. During the breifing he also invited Maithripala to return to the government and criticized those who have pledged their support to the common opposition movement, stating they have fallen prey to an international conspiracy.

Although they were planning to pledge their support to common candidate Maithripala Sirisena’s campaign upon instructions given by the regime, their plan fell through when Maithripala refused to engage in discussions with the organisation.

Their plan to support Maithripala was exposed by Colombo Telegraph and several other media and reliable sources close to Basil Rajapaksa said the plan was to get the BBS to support Maithripala in order to mislead the minority voters.

Rs. 2.5 Billion wasted so far on MaRa’s election campaign enters ‘Heinous book of Rajapakse records! ‘

(Lanka-e-News- 27.Nov.2014, 7.10PM) Believe it or not , so far the Presidential election campaign of Medamaulana MaRa had gobbled up Rs. 2.5 Billion of people’s funds! This leaked out when the committee for the Medamulana Rajapakse election campaign met yesterday(26) morning. With a view to making MaRa the President for the third term ,(seemingly impossible under the circumstances) this committee comprised of media secretary Charitha Herath and a team have planned to meet daily.

It is via this media campaign what ought be spoken at the media meeting of the ruling alliance are planned , and what actions should be taken to undermine the campaign of the common opposition alliance candidate are decided. At this committee meeting this morning , it was decided that Medamulana MaRa’s cutout campaign has become such a ludicrous sport and play that it has exceeded the limit , whereby it is incurring the displeasure and disgust of the people . Through the social media websites , the cutouts of MaRa are spat at with chewed betel leaves , as well as being subjected to most humiliating and insolent treatment .

Already , practically on every lamp post in the country , hangs a cutout of MaRa while a large number of huge 80 to 100 feet cutouts are also on display .It was pointed out by the committee that on many such cutouts , ‘these monies are also ours’ has been written or written on a paper and pasted by the public .

The committee therefore decided that in the future , 100 feet cutouts shall be removed and discarded , and the lamp post cutouts shall be discontinued to save face.

It was at this committee discussion the profligate election campaign of MaRa also came to light . It was revealed ,so far more than Rs. 2.5 Billion had been spent on MaRa’s election cutout campaign alone. It can therefore be imagined what colossal amount of public funds will be sent down the drain by the time MaRa’s campaign is concluded.

It is noteworthy these monies are apart from the many millions that were paid lately to halt MPs from crossing over to the opposition . Sums of monies as large as Rs. 150 million were paid to avert MPs crossing over , and Ministers were paid much more . In some cases these parliamentarians notorious for putting ‘polu’ (loan defaulters) to banks were given the opportunity to get their bank loans waived. In other instances ,they were gifted with super luxury BMW vehicles instead of cash . Those who provided the necessary funds for these sordid activities were Thiru Nadesan , Tiran Alles and Sajin Vaas M.P.

---------------------------
by     (2014-11-27 13:50:42)

Rajapaksa family accounts for 56% of expenditure: Eran

November 26, 2014

•  Eran slams Budget during closing speech
•  Says no confidence in numbers presented after drastic amendments
• Too much power around executive, ministers reduced to puppets says UNP MP

UNP National List lawmaker Eran Wickremaratne slammed the Government’s 2015 Budget, saying it was not worth the paper it was written on, after the UPFA moved drastic amendments to the numbers within 10 days of its presentation.

Rajapaksa Family Accounts for 56% of Expenditure Eran by Thavam

Maithri makes Rajapaksas remember Bandaranaykes

THURSDAY, 27 NOVEMBER 2014

At the press conference of the SLFP held yesterday (26th) at SLFP head office, after the Secretary General of the Mithripala Sirisena came forward as the candidate of the common opposition, the photographs of Mr. SWRD Bandaranayke and Mrs. Siriamawo Bandaranayke had been suddenly added to the background banner used for press conferences.

The background banner that was used earlier for press conferences had the photograph of Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa only.

A journalist asked whether the photographs of Mr. and Mrs. Bandaranayaka were not displayed earlier due to forgetfulness.

Minister S.B. Dissanayaka responding said, “SLFP forms alliances with other parties to come to power. As such objectives and symbols of the alliance come to the forefront then. This is why the symbol ‘hand’ went back and the symbol ‘betel leaf’ came to the front.”

A journalist asked whether the ‘hand’ symbol had gone back.

Mr. Disssanayaka responded saying, “SLFP would never go back. However, during the past the post of secretary general was at a state of sleep.

When I took over the post of Secretary General of the party the party did not have a flag; there was neither a women’s organization nor a youth organization. They were formed after I became the secretary general. After me they all fell to a state of sleep.  They became active only after Mr. Basil Rajapaksa was appointed the national organizer.”

The main accusation of SLFP seniors was that Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa dragged the SLFP to the garbage pit once he became the president of the party and their statements in the past indicated they were pressurized due to the new culture that was being developed within the party casting aside the principles of the SLFP and forgetting Bandaranaykes who founded the party and nourished it.

Mr. Maithripala Sirisena, who was severely pressurized due to his holding the post of secretary general of the party, sought relief in becoming the candidate of the alliance that was building against Rajapaksas.

In his first press conference Mr. Sirisena said Rajapaksas have taken the SLFP into their custody. He said he was not allowed to carry out any work for the betterment of the party and revealed how Mahinda Rajapaksa ordered to stop the commemoration programmes for Bandaranayakas that were held earlier.

ඡන්දෙත් එක්ක ශ්‍රිලනිපයට බණ්ඩාරනායකවරු මතක් වෙලා

NOVEMBER 27, 2014
ශ්‍රී ලංකා නිදහස් පක්ෂ මූලස්ථානයේදී පැවැත්වෙන ප්‍රවෘත්ති සාකච්ඡාවලදී මතෛක් දක්නට නොලැබුණු බණ්ඩාරනායක මහතාගේ සහ සිරිමාවෝ බණ්ඩාරනායක මැතිනියගේ ඡායාරූප ඊයේ (26) පැවැති ප්‍රවෘත්ති සාකච්ඡාවේදී පසුතලයේ ප්‍රදර්ශනය කර තිබිම පිළිබඳව මාධ්‍යවේදීහු මූලාසනයෙන් ප්‍රශ්න කළහ.

ශ්‍රී ලංකා නිදහස් පක්ෂයේ නම සහ මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ ජනාධිපතිවරයාගේ රූපය පමණක් ඇති බැනරයක් මීට ඉහතදී පැවැත්වූ ප්‍රවෘත්ති සාකච්ඡාවලදී දක්නට ලැබුණු අතර ඊයේ (26) පැවැති ප්‍රවෘත්ති සාකච්ඡාව සඳහා යොදා ගත් බැනරයේ බණ්ඩාරනායක මහතාගේ සහ එම මැතිනියගේ ඡායාරූපද දක්නට ලැබිණි.

මේ පිළිබඳව මාධ්‍යවේදියෙකු නැගූ ප්‍රශ්නයකට පිළිතුරුදුන් එස්.බි. දිසානායක අමාත්‍යවරයා සඳහන් කළේ බණ්ඩාරනායක මහතා පක්ෂයේ නිර්මාතෘවරයා බවත් සිරිමාවෝ මැතිනිය පක්ෂය ආරක්ෂා කිරීමට දහදුක් විඳි ශ්‍රී ලනිපයේ ‘අම්මා’ බවත්ය. එම දෙපළගේ දියණියන් සහ පුතණුවන් පක්ෂය හැර ගියද සිරිමාවෝ මැතිනිය සියලු අභියෝග මැද පක්ෂය හා පාක්ෂිකයන් ආරක්ෂා කළ බවද හෙතෙම සඳහන් කළේය.

පසුගිය කාලසීමාවේ එම දෙපළගේ ඡායාරූප ප්‍රදර්ශනය නොකළේ ඒ බව අමතක වී තිබූ නිසා දැයි මෙහිදී මාධ්‍යවේදීන් ප්‍රශ්න කළේය.

ඒ සඳහා පිළිතුරු දුන් එස්.බි. දිසානායක මහතා මෙසේද කීය. ශ්‍රී ලංකා නිදහස් පක්ෂය ආණ්ඩු පිහිටුවීම සඳහා අනෙකුත් දේශපාලන පක්ෂ සමග සන්ධානගත වෙනවා. එහිදී ඉදිරියට එන්නේ සන්ධානයේ අරමුණු සහ සන්ධානයේ සලකුණ. ඒ නිසා ‘අත’ ලකුණ පස්සට ගිහින් ‘බුලත් කොළය’ ඉදිරියට ආවා.

ප්‍රශ්නය – ඒ කියන්නේ ‘අත’ ලකුණ පස්සට ගිහින්ද තිබුණේ?

පිළිතුර – නෑ. ශ්‍රී ලංකා නිදහස් පක්ෂය කවදාවත් පස්සට යන්නේ නෑ. නමුත් පසුගිය කා‍ලේ පක්ෂයේ මහ‍ලේකම් ධුරය තිබුණේ නිද්‍රාශීලීවයි. මම පක්ෂයේ මහ‍ලේකම් ධුරය බාර ගන්නා විට පක්ෂයට කොඩියක් තිබුණේ නෑ. කාන්තා සංවිධානයක්, තරුණ සංවිධානයක් තිබුණේ නෑ. මම මහ‍ලේකම් වුණාට පස්සෙයි ඒ සියල්ල සිදුවුණේ. මගෙන් පසුව නැවත එය නිද්‍රාශීලී වුණා. නැවත පණ ලැබුවේ බැසිල් රාජපක්ෂ මහතා ජාතික සංවිධායක වූ පසුවයි.

Common candidate to contest under the dove symbol?

Thursday, 27 November 2014 

Common candidate Maithripala Sirisena is likely to contest under the symbol of the dove at the next Presidential election.

The campaign organizers of the common candidate shot listed several symbols to choose from. The first two symbols were the dove and sword.

Although the sword would have been symbolic of Sirisena’s Rajarata heritage, it was witnessed as a symbol of violence.

The organizer then short listed the lotus flower and the dove.

However, it is learnt that a majority of the members in the campaign have agreed to the dove as it was a symbol of peace and hope.

EC to call for explanation from the TRC

 Wednesday, 26 November 2014 

Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya it is learnt has decided to call for an explanation from the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) over the blocking of a private television network on Dialog TV and Peo TV on Saturday (22).

The Sirasa, MTV and Shakthi TV channels were blocked from 6.30 pm last Saturday on Dialog TV and Peo TV, which resulted in the channels’ news bulletins and the Satana political discussion being blocked to many viewers.

Common candidate Maithripala Sirisena, Rajitha Senaratne, Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero participated in the Satana political talk show that day.

Following complaints about the blocking of the channels by the TRC, the Elections Commissioner has decided to call for an explanation from the Commission about the matter.

Chandrika: The King Maker

By Premachndra S. Salgado -November 27, 2014 

I’m a retired public servant who worked under Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratnga. The article which you find below was written 9 years ago, a small part of the large diary that I have maintained. Now that Chandrika B. has decided to reengage in politics, I am thinking of writing an article, suitably edited against libel laws.

The former President Chndrika Kumaratunge, has merged again into the spotlight as the king maker, in seeking the appointing the Common candidate of the opposition. In this process she has assured, it seem toRanil Wickremesinghe, that she will manipulate and instigate the cross over 60 Ministers and M.Ps from the governing coalition. Her recent movers are a culmination of manoeuvres she hatched since she gave up the Presidency. It is no secret that she was never a well-wisher of Mhinda Rajapaksa, if it is only due to the tenacity of MR that he got the nomination, against her will.

There are certain ethics and rules of conduct, which governs the behavior of a President, who has finished two terms in office. Although there are no constitutional provisions for a President’s conduct, after their term of office, there has developed a tradition, that Presidents spend their retirement engaged in social service, writing their memoirs or being engaged in business activities. In the United States, former Presidents are endowed by law with a fund to retain their documents and memoirs. Former Presidents do not criticize the incumbent President and is always available for advice and discussion. Similar traditions prevail in other democracies. In Sri Lanka, this tradition was maintained by J.R. Jayewardene after his two terms. He had invested his money to form a Jayewardene Center with a well equipped library, which provides a place for conferences and meetings. President Premadasa died of a suicide bomb attack, and may not have give attention to his political legacy, however there exists a Premadasa Center, and a good biography has been written by Bradman Weerakoon, and his loyalists, I believe his family and his supporters maintain the center.

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Lawyers Collective resolve to support the candidature of the Opposition Common Candidate

(Lanka-e-News- 27.Nov.2014, 5.15PM) The Executive Committee of ‘Lawyers Collective’ at its meeting held on 24th November unanimously revolved as follows:

‘Lawyers Collective’ which emerged as an umbrella organization of several lawyers associations when the government of President Mahinda Rajapakse introduced to Parliament the infamous, scandalous, impeachment motion in Parliament, to impeach the 43rd Chief Justice. ‘Lawyers Collective’ has throughout uncompromisingly and steadfastly stood for Rule of Law, independence of the Judiciary and protection of human rights.

We are a nation that has a long history of democratic governance where democratic values were respected and where there was space for dissent and diversity.

In the past, our country was accepted as a model democracy and we won the respect and affection of the international community. Through the democratic process we were able to build a welfare state where social justice prevailed.

What we see today is the total dismantling of the system that prevailed. We see a complete breakdown of Rule of Law, independence of the judiciary and respect for human rights, and the welfare state based on social justice has disappeared.

We are of the view that the deep social, economic and political crisis that we face today is mainly due to the enormous powers vested in one person under the Executive Presidential System. Adoption of the 18th amendment has created an authoritarian state stinking with corruption and family rule where one family controls the political power and economic resources of the country.

We cannot even think of reversing this trend unless we abolish the Executive Presidential System. Though we do not envisage that the abolition of the Executive Presidential System is the solution to all social, economic and political problems facing the country, we believe that it will create the necessary democratic space for us to engage in finding solutions to our problems.

Lack of accountability at all levels of government is of serious concern to us.

For these reasons we resolve to support the candidature of the Opposition Common Candidate, who with number of opposition political has pledged to

1. abolish the Executive Presidential System and to establish a Parliamentary System of Government where the executive power vest with the Prime Minister and a Cabinet accountable to Parliament.
2. re-enact the 17th amendment.
3. restore democracy, good governance and establish a society where we can live as free citizens in a free society, free of fear.

Conveners : Lal Wijenayake, Chandrapala Kumarage, JC Weliamuna

Ex-minister to pose 'serious challenge' to Sri Lankan President

• Date 26.11.2014

The decision by Sri Lanka's health minister to resign and run in the upcoming snap presidential elections could present a real challenge to the South Asian nation's current leader, as Nira Wickramasinghe tells DW.

The announcement by Maithripala Sirisena on November 21 came as a blow to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who had declared the previous day that he would seek an unprecedented third term as president and called a snap election. The vote is scheduled to take place in early January.

Talking to reporters at a press conference, Sirisena said "one family has taken control of the economy, power and the party. The country is moving towards a dictatorship."

Ex-minister to Pose 'Serious Challenge' to Sri Lankan President by Thavam

This Man Maithripala

By Shyamon Jayasinghe -November 27, 2014 

Shyamon Jayasinghe

Sri Lankans are not an unfortunate people. We know that they are never vanquished by famine and drought. The Tsunami came, but that was a rare regional geological oceanic shift. A bit of flood comes now and then. The land is defined by scenic beauty; it is fertile for any tropical cultivation. People are quick at learning, imitating and creating. They are intelligent and free in spirit. The light of the Dhamma came early in the island’s history and spread throughout the villages and towns for many centuries. Through humanity’s historical evolutionary process a diversity grew in a tolerant atmosphere-a diversity in ethnicity and religion that was just thrown into a lovely curry pot. The island quickly got over political ups and downs and found solutions to political crises. The latest solution is now bigger than life before us: Ayubowan, Maithripala Sirisena!

I was most impressed listening and watching to the video going round of the speech that Maithri delivered at the UNP Headquarters before a UNP audience of stalwarts and rank and file. This is a genuine leader born of Lankan soil, I thought. Maithri instantly grasped his audience’ aspirations and apprehensions-which is the most important thing for a public speaker. He knew there were many doubts and suspicions and misunderstandings among the men and women of the Grand Old Party that have been long in the political drought. He effectively and dramatically pressed the button on the real crisis issue that all Lankans regardless of party affiliation do face today: In a third term, Mahinda Rajapaksa will leave no party left in the country-only a solitary dictatorship! The island is slipping fast toward the dictatorial paradigm, he warned.

Maithri beautifully reminded his audience of the great Gandhi who gave himself up for a noble cause. He reminded the audience about Nelson Mandela who languished in prison for 27 years; how he achieved his power- goal, completed his mission for South Africa, never asked for another term and handed over to another leader elected under democratic rule. The audience gave Maithri a rapturous endorsement when he said: “I am no Gandhi. I am no Nelson Mandela. But I regard the spirituality and philosophy of these personages in the highest esteem.” Maithri gave just 100 days to demolish the Executive Presidential system and restore parliamentary democracy in Sri Lanka under which every party can live and compete peacefully for the popular vote.

I thought, for an ordinary farmer’s son who grew in a colonization scheme built by DS Senanayake (Maithri mentioned this) this was most amazing. I have listened to Oxford-educated politicians of Sri Lanka but the latter were no par with the understanding that Maithri exhibited. He showed considerable restraint, used the right metaphors and demonstrated a clarity of thinking that converted me into a fan. To a cognitively receptive and intelligent person political experience is adequate to impart a sophisticated level of self-education, I thought. Here is a leader with his feet firmly on the ground who does rise far above ground.

Sri Lankans must join hands to shed this path toward a dictatorial system that most unfortunately its current President has set out to inflict on the people. Sri Lankans, unlike citizens inhabiting the arenas of dictatorial establishments in countries like Africa, are an intelligent, literate, educated, freedom-loving  people. Democracy has been comfortably rooted in this beautiful island. Many a time have Sri Lankans exercised their franchise to change governments. This very possibility of change acted as a check and balance on a ruling elite. It was an open society that the island possessed. Diversities had been respected and popular consent constantly sought. Information was open. Why on earth has Mahinda Rajapakse sought to lock the island in a dictatorial system? Mahinda does have a problem with his close associates and sycophants who have  contributed toward a delusional personality disorder that he now suffers from. The end would be that the people will forget even the good he had done.